HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-22-2025 TC Agenda Packet
Tree Committee
AGENDA
Monday, September 22, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo
The Tree Committee holds in-person meetings. Zoom participation will not be supported at this time.
Attendees of City Council or Advisory Body meetings are eligible to receive one hour of
complimentary parking; restrictions apply, visit Parking for Public Meetings for more details.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT:
Public Comment prior to the meeting (must be received 3 hours in advance of the meeting):
Mail - Delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. Address letters to the City Clerk's Office at 990
Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, 93401.
Email - Submit Public Comments via email to advisorybodies@slocity.org. In the body of your
email, please include the date of the meeting and the item number (if applicable). Emails will not
be read aloud during the meeting.
Voicemail - Call (805) 781-7164 and leave a voicemail. Please state and spell your name, the
agenda item number you are calling about, and leave your comment. Verbal comments must be
limited to 3 minutes. Voicemails will not be played during the meeting.
*All correspondence will be archived and distributed to members, however, submissions received
after the deadline may not be processed until the following day.
Public Comment during the meeting:
Meetings are held in-person. To provide public comment during the meeting, you must be
present at the meeting location.
Electronic Visual Aid Presentation. To conform with the City's Network Access and Use Policy,
Chapter 1.3.8 of the Council Policies & Procedures Manual, members of the public who desire
to utilize electronic visual aids to supplement their oral presentation must provide display-ready
material to the City Clerk by 12:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Contact the City Clerk's
Office at cityclerk@slocity.org or (805) 781-7114.
Pages
1.CALL TO ORDER
Chair Ben Parker will call the Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee to order.
2.PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
The public is encouraged to submit comments on any subject within the
jurisdiction of the Tree Committee that does not appear on this agenda.
Although the Committee will not take action on items presented during the
Public Comment Period, the Chair may direct staff to place an item on a future
agenda for discussion.
3.CONSENT
Matters appearing on the Consent Calendar are expected to be non-
controversial and will be acted upon at one time. A member of the public may
request the Tree Committee to pull an item for discussion. The public may
comment on any and all items on the Consent Agenda within the three-minute
time limit.
3.a CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES - AUGUST 25, 2025 TREE
COMMITTEE MINUTES
5
Recommendation:
To approve the Tree Committee Minutes of August 25, 2025.
4.TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION
4.a REVIEW A TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION TO REMOVE ONE (1)
CANARY ISLAND DATE PALM LOCATED AT 2226 BEEBEE ST
(APPLICATION: TREE-0689-2025)
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Recommendation:
Review the proposed tree removal application for consistency with the
Municipal Code Section 12.24.090(E) and provide a recommendation to
the Community Development Director.
4.b REVIEW A TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION TO REMOVE EIGHT (8)
SWEETGUMS LOCATED AT 4325 S. HIGUERA ST (APPLICATION:
TREE-0722-2025)
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Recommendation:
Review the proposed tree removal application for consistency with the
Municipal Code Section 12.24.090(E) and provide a recommendation to
the Community Development Director.
5.COMMENT AND DISCUSSION
5.a ARBORIST REPORT
Receive a brief update from Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City
Arborist Walter Gault.
6.ADJOURNMENT
The next Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee meeting is scheduled for
October 27, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990
Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.
LISTENING ASSISTIVE DEVICES are available -- see the Clerk
The City of San Luis Obispo wishes to make all of its public meetings accessible
to the public. Upon request, this agenda will be made available in appropriate
alternative formats to persons with disabilities. Any person with a disability who
requires a modification or accommodation in order to participate in a meeting
should direct such request to the City Clerk’s Office at (805) 781-7114 at least
48 hours before the meeting, if possible. Telecommunications Device for the
Deaf (805) 781-7410.
Agenda related writings or documents provided to the Tree Committee are
available for public inspection on the City’s website:
https://www.slocity.org/government/mayor-and-city-council/agendas-and-
minutes. Meeting video recordings can be found on the City’s website:
http://opengov.slocity.org/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=61087&dbid=0&repo=CityCl
erk
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1
Tree Committee Minutes
August 25, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo
Tree Committee
Members Present:
Member Henry Bonifas, Member Daniel Canella, Member Kari
Gephart, Member Dan Shinn, Vice Chair Emily Rosten, Chair
Ben Parker
Tree Committee
Members Absent:
Member Charles Gerencser
City Staff Present: Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault,
Deputy City Clerk Sara Armas
_____________________________________________________________________
1. CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Tree Committee was called to order
on August 25, 2025 at 5:31 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990
Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, by Chair Parker.
2. OATH OF OFFICE
Deputy City Clerk Sara Armas administered the Oath of Office to Kari Gephart.
3. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Public Comment:
None
--End of Public Comment--
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4. CONSENT
4.a CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES - JULY 28, 2025 TREE COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Motion By Vice Chair Rosten
Second By Member Bonifas
To approve the Tree Committee Minutes of July 28, 2025.
Ayes (6): Member Bonifas, Member Canella, Member Gephart, Member
Shinn, Vice Chair Rosten, and Chair Parker
Absent (1): Member Gerencser
CARRIED (6 to 0)
5. TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION
5.a REVIEW A TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION TO REMOVE ONE (1)
VELVET ASH STREET TREE LOCATED AT 1524 BALBOA ST
(APPLICATION: TREE-0415-2025)
Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault presented
the staff report and responded to Committee inquiries.
Applicant representative, Troy Schwoerer, provided an overview of the
Tree Removal application and responded to questions raised.
Chair Parker opened Public Comment
Public Comment:
Fitzgerald Kelly
--End of Public Comment--
Chair Parker closed Public Comment
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Motion By Member Bonifas
Second By Member Canella
Recommend the Community Development Director deny the proposed
tree removal application, as it is not consistent with the Municipal Code
Section 12.24.090(E) based on the following findings:
G(1) Size of tree: Tree does have a large canopy in relation to other
trees on the street. Its visual prominence carries a high
preservation priority.
G(2) Location: The tree is a street tree, is highly visible from the
right-of-way and provides a high visual impact to the neighborhood.
Ayes (5): Member Bonifas, Member Canella, Member Shinn, Vice Chair
Rosten, and Member Gephart
Noes (1): Chair Parker
Absent (1): Member Gerencser
CARRIED (5 to 1)
6. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION
6.a ARBORIST REPORT
Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault provided
the following update of upcoming projects and activities in the Tree
Division:
The City will host an Arbor Day event on November 1, 2025 at
Santa Rosa Park
ECOSLO has identified a few areas in the City for block planting
7. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:11 p.m. The next Regular Meeting of the Tree
Committee is scheduled for September 22, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council
Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.
_________________________
APPROVED BY TREE COMMITTEE: XX/XX/2025
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TREE COMMITTEE AGENDA REPORT
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR THE REMOVAL OF 1 CANARY ISLAND DATE PALM
LOCATED AT 2226 BEEBEE ST (APPLICATION: TREE-0689-2025)
FROM: Walter Gault, Urban Forestry Program Coordinator / City Arborist
Phone Number: (805) 781-7578
Email: wgault@slocity.org
RECOMMENDATION
Review the proposed tree removal application for consistency with the Municipal Code
Section 12.24.090(E) and provide a recommendation to the Community Development
Director.
1.0 APPLICATION DESCRIPTION
Meeting Date: 9/22/2025
Item Number: 4a
Time Estimate: 30 Minutes
Figure 1: Site of Proposed Tree Removal
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Item 4a
Todd Ventura, the applicant, has
requested the removal of one (1) Phoenix
canariensis (Canary Island Date Palm) at
2226 Beebee Street located within the
Manufacturing (M) zone. Part of the
property is located in the “High” Fire
Severity Zone (indicated in Figure 2 by the
color orange).
The applicant has indicated in their
application that the tree was a volunteer
and that its size in the current location is
not ideal, and that it is causing damage to
the parking lot pavement. The applicant is
open to adjustments to the replanting plan.
The applicant would like to remove the
palm tree and replace it with four (4)
compensatory Brachychiton populneous
(Bottle Trees) onsite along the frontage of
Bridge St. The compensatory replanting plan is in conjunction with a separate removal
request of two (2) trees in a Health and Hazard application (TREE -0524-2025).
2.0 COMMITTEE PURVIEW
The Tree Committee’s role is to review the removal request in accordance with the
process set forth in San Luis Obispo Municipal Code (SLOMC) Chapter 12.24, specifically
Section 12.24.090(E)(3) - tree removals related to property owner convenience. This code
section utilizes the process set forth in subsection F(2), the relevant additional application
requirements in subsection (D)(2) and the criteria set forth in subsection (G).
3.0 TREE REGULATIONS
The City’s Tree Ordinance (Municipal Code Chapter 12.24) was adopted with the purpose
of establishing a comprehensive program for installing, maintaining, and preserving trees
within the City. This ordinance establishes policies, regulations, and specifica tions
necessary to govern installation, maintenance, removal, and preservation of trees to
beautify the city; to purify the air; to provide shade and wind protection; to add
environmental and economic value; and to preserve trees with historic or unusual value.
Figure 2 – Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map
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Item 4a
Criteria for Convenience Tree Removal Applications.
SLOMC §12.24.090 subsection
(E)(3) requires review by the Tree
Committee using the criteria set for
in SLOMC §12.24.090(G).
Applicable criteria are provided in
italics below and followed by a
description of the proposed tree
removals as it relates to that
criterion.
(G)(1). Size of Tree. The
scale of the tree shall be
considered, as well as the size of
the tree’s canopy. Larger, more
visually prominent trees may have
a higher preservation priority than
smaller, less visually prominent
trees.
The tree proposed for removal is
large and visually prominent in the
neighborhood.
(G)(2). Location of Tree on
Private Property. The location of
the tree on private property shall be
considered. Trees located in a
private rear yard, which are not
highly visible from the public right-
of-way, may have a lower
preservation priority than trees with a high visual impact to the neighborhood.
The tree proposed for removal is highly visible from the public right of way.
(G)(3). Species of Tree. Native trees shall have a higher preservation priority than
non-native trees.
The tree proposed for removal is non-native.
(G)(4). Forestry Best Practice. The number of healthy trees that a given parcel of
land will support shall be considered, and whether removal would enhance the
health or survival of remaining trees. Applications that increase biodiversity of
native trees and tree age distribution within a given area are preferred.
The removal and replanting would increase the biodiversity of the urban forest and
tree age distribution.
Figure 2 – View of Palm from Bridge St (June 2023)
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Item 4a
(G)(6). Compliance with Subsection J of This Section Regarding Compensatory
Plantings. The approving authority may consider an application proposal to provide
compensatory plantings in excess of required minimums in evaluating this
criterion.
The applicant is proposing to exceed the minimum required replanting rate of 1:1.
(G)(7). Heritage Trees. Heritage trees have the highest preservation priority.
The tree is not a heritage tree.
4.0 ACTIONS
4.1 Recommend findings of consistency with the Tree Regulations. An action
recommending approval of the proposed tree removal(s) based on consistency
will be forwarded to the Community Development Director for final action. This
action may include recommendations regarding the compensatory replanting
plan with size and species of tree(s).
4.2 Recommend findings of inconsistency with the Tree Regulations. An action
recommending denial of the proposed tree removal(s) should include findings
that cite the basis for denial and should reference inconsistency with the
General Plan, Tree Regulations, or other policy documents.
4.3 Continue the project to a hearing date certain, or uncertain. An action
continuing the review of the proposed tree removal(s) should include directions
to the applicant and staff on pertinent issues.
5.0 ATTACHMENTS
A - Convenience Removal Application
B - Site Map for Palm Removal
C - Replanting Plan
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Date Palm located on edge of
parking lot/driveway
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We believe we can plant multiple
"replacement trees in the area indicated.
These may be
1. Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinensis)
2. Heath Melaleuca (Melaleuca ericifolia)
3. Marina Madrone Arbutus "Marina"
4. Chinese Flame Tree Koelreuteria bipinnata
We are open to suggestion for the space and
consistency with our other landscape.
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TREE COMMITTEE AGENDA REPORT
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR THE REMOVAL OF 8 AMERICAN SW EETGUMS
LOCATED AT 4325 S. HIGUERA ST (APPLICATION: TREE-0722-2025)
FROM: Walter Gault, Urban Forestry Program Coordinator / City Arborist
Phone Number: (805) 781-7578
Email: wgault@slocity.org
RECOMMENDATION
Review the proposed tree removal application for consistency with the Municipal Code
Section 12.24.090(E) and provide a recommendation to the Community Development
Director.
1.0 APPLICATION DESCRIPTION
Meeting Date: 9/22/2025
Item Number: 4b
Time Estimate: 30 minutes
Figure 1: Site of proposed tree removals; location of trees in green.
Page 19 of 34
Item 4b
Elite Team Offices, the applicant on behalf of
Pacific Gas & Electric, has requested the
removal of eight (8) Liquidambar styraciflua
(American Sweet Gum) at 4325 S. Higuera
Street located within the Service Commercial
(C-S-SP) Specific Plan Area zone. The
applicant has indicated in their application that
the seeds produced by the trees are tripping
hazards.
The applicant would like to replant trees at the
minimum required rate of 1:1 with eight (8)
Pistacia chinensis (Chinese Pistache) onsite
in the same locations.
2.0 COMMITTEE PURVIEW
The Tree Committee’s role is to review the
removal request in accordance with the
process set forth in San Luis Obispo
Municipal Code (SLOMC) Chapter 12.24, specifically Section 12.24.090(E)(3) - tree
removals related to property owner convenience. This code section utilizes the process
set forth in subsection F(2), the relevant additional application requirements in subsection
(D)(2) and the criteria set forth in subsection (G).
Figure 2 – Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map
Figure 3 – View of several of the trees from S. Higuera (June 2023)
Page 20 of 34
Item 4b
3.0 TREE REGULATIONS
The City’s Tree Ordinance (Municipal Code Chapter 12.24) was adopted with the purpose
of establishing a comprehensive program for installing, maintaining, and preserving trees
within the City. This ordinance establishes policies, regulations, and specifica tions
necessary to govern installation, maintenance, removal, and preservation of trees to
beautify the city; to purify the air; to provide shade and wind protection; to add
environmental and economic value; and to preserve trees with historic or unusual value.
Criteria for Convenience Tree Removal Applications.
SLOMC §12.24.090 subsection (E)(3) requires review by the Tree Committee using the
criteria set for in SLOMC §12.24.090(G). Applicable criteria are provided in italics below
and followed by a description of the proposed tree removals as it relates to that criterion.
(G)(1). Size of Tree. The scale of the tree shall be considered, as well as the size
of the tree’s canopy. Larger, more visually prominent trees may have a higher
preservation priority than smaller, less visually prominent trees.
The tree(s) proposed for removal are not large nor are they visually prominent in
the neighborhood.
(G)(2). Location of Tree on Private Property. The location of the tree on private
property shall be considered. Trees located in a private rear yard, which are not
highly visible from the public right-of-way, may have a lower preservation priority
than trees with a high visual impact to the neighborhood.
The trees proposed for removal are somewhat visible from the public right of way.
(G)(3). Species of Tree. Native trees shall have a higher preservation priority than
non-native trees.
The trees proposed for removal are non-native.
(G)(4). Forestry Best Practice. The number of healthy trees that a given parcel of
land will support shall be considered, and whether removal would enhance the
health or survival of remaining trees. Applications that increase biodiversity of
native trees and tree age distribution within a given area are preferred.
The removal and replanting would not increase the biodiversity of the urban forest,
but it would increase the tree-age distribution in the S. Higuera area.
(G)(6). Compliance with Subsection J of This Section Regarding Compensatory
Plantings. The approving authority may consider an application proposal to provide
compensatory plantings in excess of required minimums in evaluating this
criterion.
The applicant is proposing to meet the minimum required replanting rate of 1:1.
(G)(7). Heritage Trees. Heritage trees have the highest preservation priority.
Page 21 of 34
Item 4b
The tree is not a heritage tree.
4.0 ACTIONS
4.1 Recommend findings of consistency with the Tree Regulations. An action
recommending approval of the proposed tree removal(s) based on consistency
will be forwarded to the Community Development Director for final action. This
action may include recommendations regarding the compensatory replanting
plan with size and species of tree(s).
4.2 Recommend findings of inconsistency with the Tree Regulations. An action
recommending denial of the proposed tree removal(s) should include findings
that cite the basis for denial and should reference inconsistency with the
General Plan, Tree Regulations, or other policy documents.
4.3 Continue the project to a hearing date certain, or uncertain. An action
continuing the review of the proposed tree removal(s) should include directions
to the applicant and staff on pertinent issues.
5.0 ATTACHMENTS
A - Tree Removal Application (4325 S. Higuera)
B - Site Plan (4325 S. Higuera)
C - Photo Log (4325 S. Higuera)
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Tree #1
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Tree # 2
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Tree #3
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Tree #4
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Tree #5
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Tree #6
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Tree #7
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Tree #8
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